Palm Healthcare Foundation Gives $75,000 to Nursing Projects

Date:June 6, 2014

Palm Healthcare Foundation has awarded Palm Beach Atlantic University a grant totaling $75,000 with the goals of advancing the nursing profession and improving Palm Beach County residents’ access to health care.

The grant will support the PBA School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, which will launch in January 2015 with a class of 24 students. The program will prepare graduates for state licensure to serve as nurse practitioners.

Graduates of Palm Beach Atlantic’s proposed DNP program, upon receipt of state licensure, will be equipped to work as nurse practitioners providing primary healthcare to patients including prescribing a range of medications. They also will be prepared to work in private practice, serve in hospital administration, teach nursing at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and lead a variety of health-related organizations. For more information on the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, call (561) 803-2122.

The program’s graduates will help offset a projected shortage of primary care providers and address the needs of a large population of underserved families in Palm Beach County. The program also will target an aging population and high-need communities that require patient/family centered care and a coordinated inter-professional approach.

“Palm Healthcare Foundation is expanding and evolving its nursing funding to address the health needs of this current decade. We are committed to supporting nurse leaders as they develop new skill sets for their work in community-based settings, where the focus will be on primary care and prevention,” stated Andrea Bradley, president and CEO of Palm Healthcare Foundation.

The grant also will help PBA’s School of Nursing explore the possibility developing a volunteer nursing corps to address multifaceted care needs in the community.

The project will assess the need and willingness of nurses and community organizations to form a nursing corps to address care transition, in-home care, care coordination and other population-based health needs. The corps also could support family caretakers by offering education in health promotion and safe practices, and it could help those living independently by providing environmental assessments and education.

“Palm Beach Atlantic University’s School of Nursing is very excited about this opportunity to educate the DNP/NP who will be an integral member of the primary care community in Palm Beach County and around the country,” School of Nursing Dean Dr. Joanne Masella said. “This doctoral program will prepare a healthcare worker who is knowledgeable in all aspects of the healthcare system.”

Dr. Masella noted that the members of the volunteer nurse corps will provide respite for the many lay healthcare providers in the community.

“We hope to become a comprehensive resource for the lay community while utilizing the expert knowledge of the many active and retired nurses in our community,” she said. “The two projects will dovetail nicely, with our DNP students participating in our volunteer nurse corps.”

About Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc. Founded in 2001, Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc. is known for solving critical healthcare issues through creative community-wide collaboration. The foundation’s “Healthier Together” initiative strives to improve the quality of life in targeted neighborhoods.

The foundation is committed to finding ways for inspired giving and thoughtful funding to generate lasting change. It has invested more than $58 million to support 130 organizations. For more information about Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc., please visit www.palmhealthcare.org or call (561) 833-6333.